Dignity of work

On Thursday September 15th, Christopher Peacock hosted an exclusive Same Sky cocktails and shopping event in their showroom and terrace. The evening was sponsored by Proximo Spirits. Guests included Francine LeFrak, Rick Friedberg, Miss USA Deshauna Barber, Miss Universe, Pia Wurtzbach, Margo Catsimatidis, Felicia Taylor, Paula Shugart, Caroline Lieberman, Robert Hughes, just to name a few.

Same Sky works with HIV+ women survivors of the Rwandan genocide and women ex-offenders in Jersey City by giving second chances through employment.

At the event, Same Sky introduced the Destiny Collection’s Daisy Cuff Bracelet and gemstone necklaces. Every purchase impacts a woman and their family by giving them the dignity of work.

Michelle Brown and Beatriz Garcia

Francine LeFrak, Nancy Pearson, and Michelle Brown

Shelby Willcox and Doreen Shelley

When you purchase a Same Sky bracelet it pays for Rwandan artisan’s Healthcare for a year and you are instantly connected to her! When you purchase a benefit or black tie bracelet, you give an ex-offender a chance in life. Same Sky has impacted 160 women ex-offenders and not one of them has gone back to jail.

On Monday, September 12, over 20 of the world’s great chefs paid a moving tribute to one of their icons, the late Roger Vergé at a special dinner at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers. Organizer and veteran event producer, Herb Karlitz and Chef Daniel Boulud succeeded in raising 100k to fund a new Roger Vergé Scholarship at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

Vergé protégé Daniel Boulud was “Chef Chair” for the evening and coordinated the guest chefs who all either worked in Mr. Vergé’s kitchen or had a special relationship with him. Besides Boulud, participating chefs included: Philippe Bertineau, David Bouley, Terrance Brennan, Georgette Farkas, Dean Fearing, Remy Funfrock, Wilfrid Hocquet, Emeril Lagasse, Mauro Maccione, Francis Mallmann, George Mendes, Richard Reddington, Mark Tarbell and Michael White. “We brought together a stellar line-up of chefs, who all jumped at the chance to celebrate a man who had such a positive influence on all of us,” said Boulud. “He was the ultimate professional – so classy, jovial and soulful in the kitchen, with elegance and charm.”

The late chef’s wife Denise Vergé flew in especially for the event and was joined by her daughter Cordelia whose touching speech gave thanks to all the chefs and over 250 guests who paid $1000 a plate for the evening. The Mayor of Mougins, who was a great friend of Roger Vergé, also flew into New York for the occasion and was joined by the French Consul General Anne Claire Legendre. “Mr. Vergé’s restaurant in the south of France was a mecca for artists, celebrities, socialites, presidents and heads of state for more than three decades,” commented Entertainment Impresario Shep Gordon, who organized many Vergé-hosted dinners (including one for The Dalai Lama) and accompanied Michael Douglas and Mike Myers to the event.

Celebrities from Elizabeth Taylor to Sharon Stone, Michael Douglas and Jack Nicholson—scores of them were regulars. A reservation at the restaurant during the Cannes Film Festival was gold," said Dr. Tim Ryan, president of The Culinary Institute of America.